A KNUTSFORD event that has proved to be one of the highlights of the social calendar has revealed it raised £6,000 for charity from this year's festival.

When the second Knutsford Beer Festival was hosted back in April this year, hopes were high for a successful event but figures just in prove that it’s not just the beer-swilling visitors that have benefitted.

Over the past week, four local charities have each been handed a cheque for £1,500 meaning the event has raised a staggering £6,000 this year.

Benefitting from the festival’s success this year are St John’s Wood Lunch Club, Knutsford GROW, East Cheshire Hospice and Lower Moss Wood Wildlife Hospital.

Andrew Malloy, Knutsford Beer Festival committee chair, said: "The event was started in 2014 to help promote all of the wonderful local brewing talent we have on our doorstep and to provide Knutsford with another key event for it’s calendar.

"It was always envisaged that any profits would be donated to local charities but we had no idea back then of just how much the event could raise.

"It’s truly fantastic that the event has proven to be such a success and we’re already planning ways in which to further improve on it for 2016.”

The event, which took place in April at the Old Town Hall, saw more than 1,000 beer enthusiasts pass through the doors, drinking more than 4,000 pints of beer.

Live music, an array of real ales from across the region, plus some great food, all ensured those visiting had a great three days, a significant amount of whom have already expressed interest in next years festival.

Support from the local business community was also high with key sponsors Stirling Lloyd and many more cask sponsors, all recognising the potential of the event.

If you missed this year’s festival, for a limited period commemorative 2015 Beer Festival tankards are on sale at the Heritage Centre with any further profits raised being split between this years festival charities and the heritage centre.